I spoke to someone who had been canvassing for the Green party in rural Wiltshire. She had met lots of angry older men, who were fed up that they couldn't get through to their GP surgery, couldn't speak to anyone at their bank etc.
I think Reform is being very clever at making Immigration the reason that people can't get GP appointments etc rather than considering if it had anything to do with ten plus years of Tory austerity.
I do wish Labour would start to seize the agenda and that news outlets wouldn't give Farage so much airtime and column inches.
It's very difficult to win a war of ideas when the other side blatantly lies. I don't know who is telling people that asylum seekers get luxury accommodation with gourmet meals, are given iPhones and hundreds of quid a week but some bastard is.
Not all Brits are being specifically targeted as undesirables.
And the Reform-voters are probably not depressed about the party's championing of their causes. Quite the opposite.
They are, however, convinced that Starmer is trying to destroy the country by letting it be overrun by brown and trans people. Stupid lies can be just as depressing for those who believe them as the truth.
Overrun.... by trans people.
I am unable to comprehend the stupidity in that statement. There aren't enough trans people to overrun anything. Unless, of course, this is the fascist bigot definition of overrun that means "exist in public".
I have professionally qualified relatives currently advocating for a Reform Government. I know for sure their middle-class backsides would fall out if they met any of the flag waving crowds we see outside refugee accommodation on TV.
I have professionally qualified relatives currently advocating for a Reform Government. I know for sure their middle-class backsides would fall out if they met any of the flag waving crowds we see outside refugee accommodation on TV.
There is always a middle and upper class coterie looking to benefit from fascism being whipped up in the lower classes.
I have professionally qualified relatives currently advocating for a Reform Government. I know for sure their middle-class backsides would fall out if they met any of the flag waving crowds we see outside refugee accommodation on TV.
There is always a middle and upper class coterie looking to benefit from fascism being whipped up in the lower classes.
Hmmm. Maybe I won't name the first person who came to mind to save the legal bill, but his dad was chummy with Adolf and funded the private venture aircraft that became the Bristol Blenheim.
I have professionally qualified relatives currently advocating for a Reform Government. I know for sure their middle-class backsides would fall out if they met any of the flag waving crowds we see outside refugee accommodation on TV.
Do you think they make a connection between the Reform Party and the mobs outside the refugee shelters, but just prefer to ignore it? Or do they really not see the linkage?
One Refirm council has forced libraries to put any kids books on gender that doesn’t fit what they want in adult sections when someone calls out Reform they claim free speech. It appears only to be for what they want to say. Fascists they are
Do you have a source for this? Not because I'm doubting you, I'm just interested to look at the facts of the case as it sounds legally questionable.
"My fellow Reform members and I believe that our young people should be protected from exposure to potentially harmful ideologies and beliefs", Paul Webb, Reform UK's communities portfolio holder.
So, Mr Webb, what are you doing to protect young people from exposure to definitely harmful ideologies and beliefs, such as the fiction that immigrants are "illegal" or a greater danger to people? or that it's OK to shout abuse at vulnerable people crammed into former hotels with no amenities? or, that being gay is wrong? or, that giving money to the rich helps the poor? or, any of the other ideologies and beliefs that Reform UK leaders and supporters routinely spout?
"My fellow Reform members and I believe that our young people should be protected from exposure to potentially harmful ideologies and beliefs", Paul Webb, Reform UK's communities portfolio holder.
So, Mr Webb, what are you doing to protect young people from exposure to definitely harmful ideologies and beliefs, such as the fiction that immigrants are "illegal" or a greater danger to people? or that it's OK to shout abuse at vulnerable people crammed into former hotels with no amenities? or, that being gay is wrong? or, that giving money to the rich helps the poor? or, any of the other ideologies and beliefs that Reform UK leaders and supporters routinely spout?
Well, in his mind, there's probably no contradiction, since he likely considers all those ideas in the second paragraph to be true and hence not harmful.
Of course the self described (in the opening) political nerd doesn't get around to discussing actual policies, or - say - a health spokesperson claiming the King and Princess of Wales developed cancer due to the Covid vaccine or even a woman convicted of incitement getting a standing ovation.
And I thought that five years ago racism was a terrible scourge that needed to be driven out of public life?
Of course the self described (in the opening) political nerd doesn't get around to discussing actual policies, or - say - a health spokesperson claiming the King and Princess of Wales developed cancer due to the Covid vaccine or even a woman convicted of incitement getting a standing ovation.
And I thought that five years ago racism was a terrible scourge that needed to be driven out of public life?
Yes - those are both terrifying. Especially the latter. Whatever your view of the whole free speech aspect, this is someone who advocated arson attacks against people's temporary homes.
Well, we are discussing what to do, when that time arrives. The only possibility for old gits like us is keep your head down. Don't go on demonstrations, don't raise a peep. It may be cowardly, but I can't see an alternative. And I remember the poem, they came for the asylum seekers, and I did nothing ...
Well, we are discussing what to do, when that time arrives. The only possibility for old gits like us is keep your head down. Don't go on demonstrations, don't raise a peep. It may be cowardly, but I can't see an alternative. And I remember the poem, they came for the asylum seekers, and I did nothing ...
Who is the "us" here? And such a stance makes you (general you) complicit in such a Kristallnacht - to not speak up makes you an accomplice to evil. We have many examples of the alternative. If they could do it, why couldn't you? Why can't you go on demonstrations and speak up?
Well, we are discussing what to do, when that time arrives. The only possibility for old gits like us is keep your head down. Don't go on demonstrations, don't raise a peep. It may be cowardly, but I can't see an alternative. And I remember the poem, they came for the asylum seekers, and I did nothing ...
I did something.
I spoke up to our charity about a local leader who was spouting this hate online.
The charity made all the right noises then did nothing. The person is still saying the same things and still leads the local branch. S/he found out it was me who reported them, even though I had asked for the complaint to be kept entirely anonymous. S/he is now bad-mouthing me.
I left the charity. In all its blurb it talks about diversity and inclusion.
Lip service.
I'm doing and saying nothing else.
Luckily I have built a good reputation in the three years I've been here so haven't lost any friends.
Yes, s/he joined Reform last year and I'm sure feels emboldened by it.
Well, we are discussing what to do, when that time arrives. The only possibility for old gits like us is keep your head down. Don't go on demonstrations, don't raise a peep. It may be cowardly, but I can't see an alternative. And I remember the poem, they came for the asylum seekers, and I did nothing ...
Who is the "us" here? And such a stance makes you (general you) complicit in such a Kristallnacht - to not speak up makes you an accomplice to evil. We have many examples of the alternative. If they could do it, why couldn't you? Why can't you go on demonstrations and speak up?
An accomplice to evil? Fucking hell, I haven't been so honoured since the sixth form.
Because it's not just ourselves who are affected by our actions. It's our family and friends too.
I'm not a coward, far from it. But my resistance would be (will be?) quiet and in the background, under the radar. Sheltering those in need and giving to causes which care. Not shouting at the shouters - that's pointless.
I'd challenge that, a lot of the current noise from the shouters is premised on the belief that they actually represent the majority, and vocal opposition challenges that notion.
Because it's not just ourselves who are affected by our actions. It's our family and friends too.
Genuinely interested, in what way are friends and family affected if you join a group of people peacefully putting themselves between a racist mob and a hotel housing vulnerable people? In what way are they affected if you join a demonstration outside the Reform conference or when Nigel visits your town?
Comments
I do wish Labour would start to seize the agenda and that news outlets wouldn't give Farage so much airtime and column inches.
https://bsky.app/profile/scotnational.bsky.social/post/3lxrpyzxidz25
https://bsky.app/profile/implausibleblog.bsky.social/post/3lxp2htmdxk2u
Overrun.... by trans people.
I am unable to comprehend the stupidity in that statement. There aren't enough trans people to overrun anything. Unless, of course, this is the fascist bigot definition of overrun that means "exist in public".
It is. Same sort of logic that sees a panel of 5 men and 1 woman as "balanced".
There is always a middle and upper class coterie looking to benefit from fascism being whipped up in the lower classes.
Hmmm. Maybe I won't name the first person who came to mind to save the legal bill, but his dad was chummy with Adolf and funded the private venture aircraft that became the Bristol Blenheim.
Do you think they make a connection between the Reform Party and the mobs outside the refugee shelters, but just prefer to ignore it? Or do they really not see the linkage?
Been busy. Here is a link to the BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6257p2vry3o
So, Mr Webb, what are you doing to protect young people from exposure to definitely harmful ideologies and beliefs, such as the fiction that immigrants are "illegal" or a greater danger to people? or that it's OK to shout abuse at vulnerable people crammed into former hotels with no amenities? or, that being gay is wrong? or, that giving money to the rich helps the poor? or, any of the other ideologies and beliefs that Reform UK leaders and supporters routinely spout?
Well, in his mind, there's probably no contradiction, since he likely considers all those ideas in the second paragraph to be true and hence not harmful.
Of course the self described (in the opening) political nerd doesn't get around to discussing actual policies, or - say - a health spokesperson claiming the King and Princess of Wales developed cancer due to the Covid vaccine or even a woman convicted of incitement getting a standing ovation.
And I thought that five years ago racism was a terrible scourge that needed to be driven out of public life?
Yes - those are both terrifying. Especially the latter. Whatever your view of the whole free speech aspect, this is someone who advocated arson attacks against people's temporary homes.
How many steps are we now from Kristallnacht?
Well, Labour keep moving in a direction that makes even more radical steps ever easier:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/07/military-sites-house-asylum-seekers-labour
Who is the "us" here? And such a stance makes you (general you) complicit in such a Kristallnacht - to not speak up makes you an accomplice to evil. We have many examples of the alternative. If they could do it, why couldn't you? Why can't you go on demonstrations and speak up?
I did something.
I spoke up to our charity about a local leader who was spouting this hate online.
The charity made all the right noises then did nothing. The person is still saying the same things and still leads the local branch. S/he found out it was me who reported them, even though I had asked for the complaint to be kept entirely anonymous. S/he is now bad-mouthing me.
I left the charity. In all its blurb it talks about diversity and inclusion.
Lip service.
I'm doing and saying nothing else.
Luckily I have built a good reputation in the three years I've been here so haven't lost any friends.
Yes, s/he joined Reform last year and I'm sure feels emboldened by it.
An accomplice to evil? Fucking hell, I haven't been so honoured since the sixth form.
Because it's not just ourselves who are affected by our actions. It's our family and friends too.
I'm not a coward, far from it. But my resistance would be (will be?) quiet and in the background, under the radar. Sheltering those in need and giving to causes which care. Not shouting at the shouters - that's pointless.
I'd challenge that, a lot of the current noise from the shouters is premised on the belief that they actually represent the majority, and vocal opposition challenges that notion.